Drilling apparatus with storage reel means

ABSTRACT

A carriage movable by a power unit along a track and carrying a driven shaft for a hollow drill rod and drive means therefor. A hollow driven shaft is operatively connected to the power unit and rotates in opposite directions in response to movement of the carriage in opposite directions. Reels rotate with the hollow driven shaft and carry flexible air supply and conductor conduits which are reeled in and out in proportion to the distance traveled by the carriage.

United States Patent [1 1 Moody et al.

[4 Oct. 23, 1973 DRILLING APPARATUS WITH STORAGE REEL MEANS Inventors: David L. Moody, Oneonta; James B.

Loftis, Remlap; James E. Boyle, Birmingham, all of Ala.

[73] Assignee: Joy Manufacturing Company,

Pittsburgh, Pa.

Filed: Aug. 29, 1972 Appl. No.: 284,651

US. Cl 173/57, l37/355.l7, 173/147 Int. Cl. E2lc 7/08 Field of Search 173/57, 147, 152,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1959 Cowan 173/147 X Primary ExaminerErnest R. Purser Attorney-Hugh P. Carter et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT A carriage movable by a power unit along a track and carrying a driven shaft for a hollow drill rod and drive means therefor. A hollow driven shaft is operatively connected to the power unit and rotates in opposite directions in response to movement of the carriage in opposite directions. Reels rotate with the hollow driven shaft and carry flexible air supply and conductor conduits which are reeled in and out in proportion to the distance traveled by the carriage.

7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTED 0m 23 I813 SHEET 2 OF 2 DRILLING APPARATUS WITH STORAGE REEL MEANS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to drilling apparatus and more particularly to apparatus for drilling holes into a mass of earth and means for supplying air under pressure, power and control means for the movable section of the apparatus in a continuous manner. While reels have been employed to support air supply conduits and electrical power conduits for drilling apparatus, no effective means has been provided for reeling the air supply conduits and electrical conductors in and out in a positive manner in response to movement of the movable section of the drilling apparatus.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with our invention, we provide a hollow driven shaft which is operatively connected to the power unit which moves the movable section of the drilling apparatus along an elongated track. The hollow driven shaft rotates in opposite directions in response to movement of the carriage in opposite directions whereby the reels rotate with the hollow driven shaft to reel the flexible air supply conduits and conductor conduits in and out in proportion to the distance traveled by the carriage.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Apparatus embodying features of our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partly broken away, showing our improved apparatus associated with apparatus for drilling holes into the side of a mass of earth;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, sectional view taken generally along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1, parts being omitted for the sake of clarity;

FIG. 3 is a fragmental, sectional view taken generally along the line 33 of FIG. 2, parts being omitted for the sake of clarity; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmental, sectional view showing the hollow driven shaft and the means for directing air under pressure to the air supply conduit.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of our invention, we show a mobile support unit for supporting a translatable frame 11. Extending longitudinally of the elongated frame 1 l is an upper pair of rails 12 which support flanged rollers 13 carried by a carriage 14. A lower flanged roller 16 is carried by the carriage 14 in position to engage the under surface of a longitudinally extending rail. By providing upper and lower flanged rollers 13 and 16, respectively, the carriage 14 is held against vertical movement relative to the track defined by the rails 12 and at the same time the carriage is adapted for free longitudinal movement along the track.

Mounted on the carriage 14 is an electric motor 17 which is operatively connected to a transmission 18 for rotating a hollow driving head or shaft 19. The motor 17, transmission 18 and'drive shaft 19 are all carried by the carriage l4 and are adapted for longitudinal movement along the rails 12.

Connected to the carriage 14 are forwardly extending driving chains 21 and rearwardly extending drive chains 22 which pass over terminal sprockets 23 and 24, respectively, and a pair of intermediate sprockets 26. As shown in FIG. 1, the intermediate sprockets 26 are operatively connected to a piston rod 27 of a fluid pressure operated cylinder 28 whereby the sprockets 26 are moved longitudinally of the frame 11 to in turn move the carriage l4 longitudinally of the frame. The sprocket drive for the carriage 14 is substantially the same as that shown and described in the Davis Robbins U.S. Pat. No. 2,849,212 dated Aug. 26, 1958 and entitled DRILLING APPARATUS." Since our present invention is not directed to the specific means for reciprocating the carriage 14 relative to the frame 11, no further description of the chain drive is deemed necessary.

. The drive shaft 19 is provided with a threaded male coupling which is adapted to engage the threaded female coupling of a hollow drill rod 29 for conveying air therethrough to clear the hole being drilled of cuttings. Mounted on the end of the drill rod 29 opposite the drive shaft 19 is the usual drill bit which is encased by a discharge housing 31.

As shown in FIG. 2, air under pressure is supplied to the hollow drive shaft 19 and hollow drill rod section 29 by a flexible conduit 32 which is operatively connected to the hollow drive shaft 19 in a manner well understood in the art for supplying air to a hollow rotary member. The flexible conduit 32 is carried by a reel 33 which is mounted on and adapted for rotation with a hollow shaft 34 which is mounted for rotation in suitable bearings 36 carried by the elongated frame 11.

As shown in FIG. 1, the terminal sprockets 23 and 24 are mounted on supporting shafts 37 and 38, respectively. Mounted on the shaft 38 outwardly of an adjacent sprocket 24 is a sprocket 39. Mounted on the hollow shaft 34 and adapted for rotation therewith is a sprocket 41 which is operatively connected to the sprocket 39 by a sprocket chain 42. Accordingly, the hollow driven shaft 34 is driven in opposite directions in response to movement of the carriage 14 in opposite directions. 7

Air is supplied to the end of the hollow shaft 34 adjacent the reel 33 by a swivel joint 43 which is connected to a suitable source for air under pressure. As shown in FIG. 4, a transverse plug member 44 is provided in the hollow drive shaft 34 in position to direct air entering the shaft 34 into the flexible air supply conduit 32.

Mounted on the hollow driven shaft 34 and adapted for rotation therewith are reels 46 and 47 which carry flexible conduits 48 and 49. The conduit 48 carries flexible conductors which serve as a control circuits while the conduit 49 carries a conductor which supplies power to the drive means for the drive shaft 19. one end of each of the conduits 48 and 49 extends outwardly of its associated reel with the other end thereof extending inwardly of the hollow driven shaft 34 and then outwardly of one end thereof. The ends of the conduits 48 and 49 extending through the hollow driven shaft 34 are operatively connected to slip rings and brushes whereby power is supplied to the conduit 49 and control conductors are operatively connected to the conductors in conduit 48. The slip rings and brushes are mounted in a suitable housing 51. Power is supplied to the slip ring and brush assembly by a suitable conductor, not shown. Also, control conductors are operatively connected to the slip rings and brushes within the housing 51 in a manner well understood in the art to which our invention relates whereby the control circuit may be actuated from a central location on the frame 11.

From the foregoing description, the operation of our improved apparatus for drilling holes into a mass of earth will be readily understood. The motor 17 and the control valve for the fluid pressure operated cylinder 28 is controlled by the conductors carried by the flexible conduit 48 while power is supplied by the conduit 49. Air under pressure is supplied to the swivel connector 43, to the hollow driven shaft 34 and then to the flexible conduit 32 whereupon it passes to the hollow drill rod section 29 and to the drill bit in the usual manner. The hollow driven shaft 34 rotates in response to movement of the sprockets 23 and 24 and the sprocket chains 21 and 22 to reel in and out the air supply conduit 32 and the flexible conduits 48 and 49 in proportion to the distance traveled by the carriage l4. Accordingly, the flexible conduits 32, 48 and 49 are extended and retracted as the carriage 14 moves longitudinally of the frame 11 whereby the conduits are extended and retracted in an efficient positive manner and at the same time no additional means is required for rotating the reels, such as spring motors or the like.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that we have devised improved apparatus for drilling holes into a mass of earth. By providing separate flexible conduits for air under pressure, power and control circuits for the various components of the drilling apparatus, together with improved means for automatically driving the reels in reverse directions in response to movement of the carriage in reverse directions, the required amount of each conduit is reeled in or out, as the case may be, thus eliminating slack in the flexible conduits. This not only assures smooth operation of the apparatus as the conduits are extended and retracted but also prevents damage to the conduits since the conduits are automatically wound on the reels as they are slackened in response to movement of the carriage 14 toward a retracted position. Furthermore, by supplying air through the hollow driven shaft and extending the power supply and control conductors through the hollow driven shaft 34, we provide a compact unit which does not interfere in any manner with extension or retraction of the conduits for supplying air under pressure, power and the control circuits for the apparatus.

While we have shown our invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.

What we claim is:

1. In apparatus for drilling holes into a mass of earth embodying an elongated translatable frame having a track extending longitudinally thereof and a carriage movable by a power unit along said track and carrying a drive shaft for a hollow drill rod section and power operated drive means for said drive shaft, the improvement comprising:

a. a hollow driven shaft mounted for rotation on said translatable frame,

b. means operatively connecting said driven shaft to the power unit which moves said carriage so that said driven shaft rotates in opposite directions in response to longitudinal movement of said carriage in opposite directions,

c. a first reel mounted on and adapted for rotation with said driven shaft,

d. a flexible air supply conduit carried by said first reel with one end of said air supply conduit extending outwardly of said first reel and operatively connected to said hollow drill rod section and with the other end of said air supply conduit communicating with the interior of said hollow driven shaft,

e. means supplying air under pressure to said hollow driven shaft,

f. at least one other reel mounted on and adapted for rotation with said driven shaft,

g. at least one flexible power supply conduit carried by said other reel with one end of power supply conduit extending outwardly of said other reel and operatively connected to said drive means and with the other end of said power supply conduit extending inwardly of said hollow driven shaft and then outwardly of one end thereof, and

h. means supplying power to said other end of said power supply conduit.

2. Apparatus for drilling holes into a mass of earth as defined in claim 1 in which the means operatively connecting said driven shaft to said power unit comprises;

a. a sprocket and chain drive extending longitudinally of said translatable frame and operatively connecting said carriage to said power unit, and

b. means operatively connecting said hollow driven shaft to said sprocket and chain drive whereby said hollow driven shaft rotates in response to movement of said sprocket and chain drive to reel in and out said air supply conduit and said power supply conduit in proportion to the distance traveled by said carriage.

3. Apparatus for drilling holes into a mass of earth as defined in claim 2 in which said means operatively connecting said hollow driven shaft to said sprocket and chain drive comprises:

a. a first sprocket mounted on said hollow driven shaft,

b. a second sprocket operatively connected to and adapted for rotation with said sprocket and chain drive, and

c. a sprocket chain passing around said first and second sprockets. v

4. Apparatus for drilling holes into a mass of earth as defined in claim 1 in which the means supplying air under pressure to said hollow driven shaft comprises:

a. a swivel connector defining an air tight joint at an end of said hollow driven shaft, and

b. means supplying air under pressure to said swivel connector.

5. Apparatus for drilling holes into a mass of earth as defined in claim 4 in which a transverse plug member is provided in said hollow driven shaft in position to direct air entering said hollow driven shaft into said flexible air supply conduit.

6. Apparatus for drilling holes into a mass of earth as defined in claim 1 in which said means supplying power comprises a slip ring and brush assembly operatively connected to said other end of said power supply conduit.

7. Apparatus for drilling holes into a mass of earth as defined in claim 6 in which a reel carrying a flexible control conductor is mounted on and adapted for rotation with said hollow driven shaft, said first reel and said reel carrying said power supply conduit with an said hollow driven shaft and operatively connected to slip rings and brushes. 

1. In apparatus for drilling holes into a mass of earth embodying an elongated translatable frame having a track extending longitudinally thereof and a carriage movable by a power unit along said track and carrying a drive shaft for a hollow drill rod section and power operated drive means for said drive shaft, the improvement comprising: a. a hollow driven shaft mounted for rotation on said translatable frame, b. means operatively connecting said driven shaft to the power unit which moves said carriage so that said driven shaft rotates in opposite directions in response to longitudinal movement of said carriage in opposite directions, c. a first reel mounted on and adapted for rotation with said driven shaft, d. a flexible air supply conduit carried by said first reel with one end of said air supply conduit extending outwardly of said first reel and operatively connected to said hollow drill rod section and with the other end of said air supply conduit communicating with the interior of said hollow driven shaft, e. means supplying air under pressure to said hollow driven shaft, f. at least one other reel mounted on and adapted for rotation with said driven shaft, g. at least one flexible power supply conduit carried by said other reel with one end of power supply conduit extending outwardly of said other reel and operatively connected to said drive means and with the other end of said power supply conduit extending inwardly of said hollow driven shaft and then outwardly of one end thereof, and h. means supplying power to said other end of said power supply conduit.
 2. Apparatus for drilling holes into a mass of earth as defined in claim 1 in which the means operatively connecting said driven shaft to said power unit comprises: a. a sprocket and chain drive extending lOngitudinally of said translatable frame and operatively connecting said carriage to said power unit, and b. means operatively connecting said hollow driven shaft to said sprocket and chain drive whereby said hollow driven shaft rotates in response to movement of said sprocket and chain drive to reel in and out said air supply conduit and said power supply conduit in proportion to the distance traveled by said carriage.
 3. Apparatus for drilling holes into a mass of earth as defined in claim 2 in which said means operatively connecting said hollow driven shaft to said sprocket and chain drive comprises: a. a first sprocket mounted on said hollow driven shaft, b. a second sprocket operatively connected to and adapted for rotation with said sprocket and chain drive, and c. a sprocket chain passing around said first and second sprockets.
 4. Apparatus for drilling holes into a mass of earth as defined in claim 1 in which the means supplying air under pressure to said hollow driven shaft comprises: a. a swivel connector defining an air tight joint at an end of said hollow driven shaft, and b. means supplying air under pressure to said swivel connector.
 5. Apparatus for drilling holes into a mass of earth as defined in claim 4 in which a transverse plug member is provided in said hollow driven shaft in position to direct air entering said hollow driven shaft into said flexible air supply conduit.
 6. Apparatus for drilling holes into a mass of earth as defined in claim 1 in which said means supplying power comprises a slip ring and brush assembly operatively connected to said other end of said power supply conduit.
 7. Apparatus for drilling holes into a mass of earth as defined in claim 6 in which a reel carrying a flexible control conductor is mounted on and adapted for rotation with said hollow driven shaft, said first reel and said reel carrying said power supply conduit with an end of said control conductor extending inwardly of said hollow driven shaft and operatively connected to slip rings and brushes. 